Ayers named USNTDP goalie coach

USA Hockey on Thursday named Mike Ayers goaltending coach for the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. If you looking Free NHL Picks here…

Ayers, who spent the last two NHL seasons as goalie coach at St. Cloud State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, will also serve as coordinator of the USNTDP’s Warren Strelow National Goaltending Mentor Program. Ayers, a native of Hingham, Mass., replaces Joe Exter, who left the NTDP post after four seasons to become an assistant coach at Ohio State University.

Free Agency Likely to Yield More Second-tier Players

Teams looking for luxury items in the 2011 unrestricted free-agent market won’t find very much to choose from. Those willing to shop at a less expensive store, however, might find some items to their liking. If you looking Free NHL Picks here…………………..

With so many teams signing players to long-term contracts, it’s becoming harder and harder to find impact unrestricted free agents each summer, and this summer looks no different.

Bryzgalov signs long-term deal with Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers’ busy Thursday continued when they signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a contract reportedly worth $51 million over nine years, not long after trading centers Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

The Flyers acquired the rights to negotiate exclusively with the 31-year-old goaltender from the Phoenix Coyotes last week, and they made sure they signed Bryzgalov before the free-agent signing period began July 1. Bryzgalov averaged 33 victories a season the past four seasons with the Coyotes in NHL free picks.

About an hour before the Bryzgalov signing was first reported, the Flyers traded Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jakub Voracek and a first- and third-round pick in the 2011 draft and Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings for Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn and a second-round pick. The Flyers were close to the salary cap ceiling, and those two blockbuster trades gave the Flyers the necessary money to lock up Bryzgalov.